Contemporary Paganism is often defined as an “Earth-Centered Religion.” While I think that’s an oversimplification, it’s true that most contemporary Pagans consider the Earth sacred. A significant reason for this view is the importance of animism within contemporary Paganism.
Animism is the belief that all of the Cosmos is infused with spirit. Spirit exists within every plant and every animal. Some animists believe spirit is also found in inanimate objects like rocks.
Many indigenous religions incorporate animism into their belief systems. Animism plays an important role in Shinto, for example. Animism is also in classic Western thought, such as the concept of the anima mundi found in Greek philosophy.
Earth Day recognizes the importance of treating the Earth and its inhabitants with respect. Unfortunately, humanity gets an F for how it treats the Earth. For example, it’s predicted that 1 million species will go extinct in the coming decades because of human activity.
The Self is the product of its relations with others. These relations aren’t limited to other humans but also to the Earth and all that dwells upon it. Earth Day calls us to work on repairing this very important relationship.
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